Finale

Disclaimer: I received this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own. It breaks my heart that this series is over, but I couldn’t have asked for a better finale (ha). This book was exactly what I needed it to be that I never knew I needed it to be. This is undoubtedly a series I will come back to time and again and suggest to everyone I possibly can. It was expansive and magical and overwhelming in a way that anyone could lose themselves in. And I don’t think anybody could ever be disappointed with this conclusion. Garber had a plan from the beginning and the way that her plans come to fruition by the end of this book makes it one you certainly won’t want to miss. If you’ve read the earlier two books in this series, Caraval and Legendary, you’ll be familiar with the tone you can expect from this book. But this final book in the series takes everything from the first two and elevates it all to a whole new level. It encompasses everything the other books were working towards and brings it to a beautiful finish. The most obvious proof of that is the perspectives of each novel. Caraval was told entirely from Scarlett’s point of view, and Legendary was told entirely from Tella’s point of view. Finale literally combines them and we get alternating perspectives from both sisters. The single perspectives worked very well in the other books. There were twists and secrets that would have been spoiled had we seen both sides of the story all along. Those books wouldn’t have worked any other way. But here they come together and let us get a wider sense of the story throughout the book. The plot has developed to the point that the games we see are of an entirely different nature compared to the games we saw in the first two books. Our Dragna sisters aren’t keeping the same kinds of secrets from each other and they’re playing for a lot more than just a Caraval victory. The games they are in now have much higher stakes, and losing will mean more than disappointment. They may just lose their lives. Garber’s writing is really extraordinary, and the story she weaves will leave you awestruck. At this point in the series, you should know to expect surprises and blow-your-socks-off twists. And yet, it’s so easy to get caught up in the magic of this world that you forget to anticipate them. You get swept away, and no matter how many times you tell yourself not everything is as it seems, no matter how many times you remember there are always games afoot, you will be surprised. I never could have anticipated some of the twists Garber had in store here, and that is a high compliment. I know I’ll be able to reread this countless times because I’ll always hold on to that feeling of shock that I had on this first read-through. Even though I’ll know all of the surprises, I’ll be able to remember what it felt like to not know. Sometimes knowing the end makes you feel finished with a book. You’ve figured it all out and there’s no need to go through it all again. But this is a story that you will never be fully finished with. The world is so complex, the mythology so fascinating, the characters so compelling, that you won’t want to ever leave it fully behind. As much as I love our characters of these books, I would equally love a different story in this world. The Fates we began to learn about in Legendary are major players in this book, but I would still love to learn more about them. A prequel about this world during the centuries that the Fates ruled the land would be amazing. And until we get more, if we ever get more, I will absolutely be happy to read this series over and over. The ways that our well-loved characters truly come into their own during this book is one of the most beautiful aspects of the story. There is so much action and intrigue going on, that the personal development could have gone under the radar, but Garber didn’t let that happen. Scarlett, who has always had to be both sister and mother to Tella and always put her own wants to the side, recognizes and uses her inner strength to become a force to be reckoned with in a way that I always wanted for her but never would have expected from the beginning of the series. She was so cautious, so unwilling to believe herself capable back in the first book. She has grown so much since then, having gone through two Caravals, but here is where we get to see her explore what she is really capable of. The stakes are so high that she really doesn’t have any other choice. There is nothing and no one to fall back on, so she really has to put her faith in herself, and it inspires such a feeling of triumph to see her even try. And Tella has grown in a very complimentary way. She was so reckless in the first two books because it was Caraval, and Legend wouldn’t let anything actually bad happen, at least not irreversibly. She is so used to playing games that it’s hard for her to get out of that mindset, to stop playing. But she has never been one to give up, and her determination to get the outcome she wants is the driving force of this novel. She will fight tooth and nail for those she loves, and without her tenacity it would have been all too easy for everyone else to take the easy way out. She may make mistakes, but she’s young and you can’t expect her to be perfect. She never stops though, and it is her persistence that keeps everyone else going. The sisters’ strengths all stem, most importantly, from the strength of their love. Their love for each other, for those around them, for their world. It’s what keeps them going and what makes them the perfect candidates to save everyone. Their love is its own kind of magic. And it pairs well with the actual magic in the world of this series. Magic is tricky and always comes with a price, but it is also enchanting and capable of making dreams come true. It is almost tangible, the way it’s written. As you read, the magic in the books lifts off the page and surrounds you in a constellation of sparkling stars, sweeps you off your feet and transports you somewhere else entirely. The magic system here is not easy to control, and the price for using magic to get what you want can be steep, but it can deliver you exactly what you need if you know how to ask, and that’s what makes it so tantalizing. It is not without consequences, so you never feel as though the use of magic is a cop-out like it can in other magic systems occasionally. It is a measured use, sometimes a reckless use, but it is never a deus ex machina, solve all of our problems use. Half the time using magic causes as many if not more problems than it solves, and that helps give this story, and the other novels in the series, such great depth. But when it works, you can’t pull yourself away, because it is just so magical. At the conclusion of this story, all I can say is I never wanted it to end. Not this book, not this series, none of it. But I can also say that it ended exactly the way it needed to, whether or not it fits into all the visions I had of what I wanted to see happen. It was still the correct ending for this narrative. So be prepared to lose yourself to this book. Be prepared to grow ever fonder of Scarlett and Tella. Be prepared to fall ever more in love with Julian and Legend. Be prepared to be fascinated by the Fates and Valenda and their entire world. You will want more, but you will be so happy with what you have that it will almost make the fact that this is the last book in the series bearable. Almost. Let the magic of Caraval and Legend and all they have to offer sweep over you once more. It’s your last chance, and you won’t ever want to let that magic go. I know I don’t.

I really enjoyed the series as a whole. This book brought he magic, the inner turmoil, and all the love. It was a great ending to a great story! I loved that it had both Tella and Scars story lines combined in one book. The story was still a puzzle to be solved like the other books with an ultimate goal in mind. It was a true love story in so many ways between family love and romantic love.

As I read about the Caraval series and people around me rave about it, I had a feeling it would be something I would like. And I was correct. It’s become one of my favorite book series, with the magical immersion, the twists and turns, the characters, it feels like one of those stories you don’t want to end, but sadly, all games must end. But Stephanie Garber brings us yet another immersive magical adventure where we discover the true meaning of love and gripping from start to finish. While the first two books dealt with different iterations of Caraval, Finale drops the game and gives us a new plot, which deals with a greater threat that was hinted in Legendary. It builds on the first two books and keeps the momentum going the entire way through with a great pace (though there isn’t as much of a ticking clock, it’s still there), not meandering with throwaway deviations. Everything meant something in building on the story and the characters. Many times, I complain in reviews about unneeded love triangles and romance shoehorning (this happens a lot in YA), but it’s usually because in those cases, the romance detracts from the story and doesn’t add much outside of extra drama and shipping fuel, and many times, it feels predictable. Not the case here. Since love and what it means is a major theme of the series and this installment especially, the love triangles and added romance element enhances this quite a bit. Scarlett and Donatella’s journey is about discovering what love really is, romantic and otherwise, and with some aspects that get revealed here, it’s more important than ever to know where they stand on love and to get their true ending, instead of just their almost ending. Even the cover drives the theme home. We get the PoVs of both Dragna sisters this time around, and it’s switched off well, where it doesn’t feel like arbitrary cut offs like some other books I’ve read. It focuses the most on the sisters’ character growth since they left their father’s mansion. What does it mean to live and love? The relationships between each other and those they met on this journey? I love watching their growth, especially Donatella (but then again, she’s my favorite). Some of the revelations blew me away as well. My heart swelled for the sisters and how they have grown in just a few months time. Three books in and the world building still surprises me, with the little bits and pieces throughout and the big plot relevant aspects. Again, it feels like a real character and a world I don’t want to leave (outside of the parts where there’s great danger a foot). While I didn’t mention this part on the previous reviews, I do love the magic system where it feels like a deal with the devil type of thing, where nothing is free, and that it hasn’t deviated away from that path. Magic is mysterious and intriguing still. Again, Garber’s prose brings an extra layer of richness and immersion, while being easy to read, and now it brings on the emotional intensity on certain places, especially in the last few chapters. I also laughed a few times, which helped with some of the intensity in a lot of the story. The climax was intense and satisfying, with some unexpected twists. I loved the extras that came in the edition I had, and apparently, there might be more Caraval to come? Even if it’s not coming (and while the story ends with the main plot wrapped up, there’s lots of things to explore in the world), I won’t be forgetting this ride for a very long time and I look forward to what Garber has in store next.

This is definitely my favourite book in the series. It was full of action and romance and I’m all here for it. There were also so many unexpected surprises and I had a really good time reading this. I really enjoyed reading about Paradise’s back story especially the part where Scarlett got to see her again. The bond between the two sisters was written so well and the relationship between our MCs was everything. I love the character development of Legend and the way the fates were portrayed. The ending was so good and although I still have a few questions left, I still enjoyed reading the book so much.

BEAUTIFUL paperBack

تغليف جيد.

O terceiro livro desta série, mantém a qualidade de escrita para além da história continuar a ter conteúdo e é extremamente divertida!

Me llegó en perfecto estado aunque sin envoltura